Humanity is a performance multiplier

Champions grew from more than 50 years of work in Holocaust education, post-genocide Rwanda, and corporate leadership  — asking a fundamental question: what does it mean to be human and why does this matter? 

It emerged from the realisation that humanity is the foundation for healthy, prosperous and thriving communities. 

And that humanity is the antidote to the various forms of inhumanity we see today: incivility, burnout, prejudice, violence, relationship breakdowns, and the pandemic of hopelessness we see amongst young people today (globally).

Humanity is not a soft idea; it is a performance multiplier, creating social, organizational and economic value. It is the glue that holds everything together.

But being human is not just biological. It must be chosen, practised and called forward by others. 

This insight led to the Champions framework - drawn from 50 years of human development experience in the UK, Africa and beyond. The 

Champions framework is a practical way to activate and strengthen humanity in organizations and communities across the world. 

Champions was developed by Glen Ford and Steve Kelly, drawing on Glen’s leadership experience across industry, Holocaust education and reconciliation work in post-genocide Rwanda, and Steve’s proven years of retail leadership in the UK.

This creates a powerful combination of ideas and action, founding on the objective to enable others to find, activate and leverage their own humanity - the foundation for thriving.

Glen brings a rare mix of moral gravity, warmth and insight. 

Shaped by 40+ years across industry, Holocaust education and reconciliation in Rwanda, he has an incredible story of service and a perspective that is truly powerful and inspiring.

His early career began at 17 in the UK roadbuilding sector, where he rose into senior roles across operations, finance, strategy and acquisitions.

In 2004, Glen volunteered in Rwanda to help build the Kigali Genocide Memorial, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the final resting place of 250,000 victims of the 1994 genocide. 

He then gave up his corporate career to support this work, that would become central to his life’s purpose - and central to Champions.

Over the next two decades, he helped steward education, remembrance and reconciliation work, including the development of peace and values education approaches designed to break cycles of hatred and violence. 

His wider achievements include helping secure major international funding, growing social enterprise income, and supporting atrocity-prevention work in South Sudan, Kenya and the Central African Republic. 

Glen’s skills span strategy, finance, operations, management consulting, business development, coaching, project delivery, stakeholder engagement and transformation. 

Those who know Glen speak of him in unusually strong terms. 

“A rare mix of moral gravity and charisma,” calling his work “deeply moving and practical for leaders everywhere.” 

Others note that Glen, who is not Jewish, has dedicated himself to addressing antisemitism and prejudice.

Glen lives in the UK with his wife, Janet. He has four adult daughters and five grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys travelling and meeting people, photography and baking bread.

Steve brings deep experience in people development, leadership and team effectiveness.

His career began in UK retail, where he became a senior regional leader responsible for around 600 staff across 20 stores. 

In 2019, he founded his own people development company, delivering leadership, team effectiveness, wellbeing and personal capacity programmes across the UK, US and Europe. 

Steve translates the Champions vision into practical learning experiences that help people understand themselves, build stronger relationships, navigate conflict and lead with greater humanity and impact.

From Manchester, Steve lives in York, England, with his wife and two teenage children. An avid football fan, supporting Manchester United, Steve is also a youth football coach in his spare time.